Our PACO Academy serves as a vehicle for PACO students to form a year-long chamber ensemble where they act as musical ambassadors for everything that PACO stands for: the unique blend of high-level chamber music with a strong, generous and supportive community.  These quartets will bring "PACO out into the World" and live by our motto, to "play well with others." Our chamber music conservatory will feature 3-5 masterclasses from renowned chamber musicians, including cellist, Dr. Christoph Wagner, violist, David Samuel from the Alexander Quartet and violinist, Robin Sharp.  Throughout the year, they will be coached by our tremendous faculty, Jory Fankuchen, Natasha Makhijani, Wendy Clymer and Eugene Sor, perform on our concert series, and when available, give outreach concerts and represent our organization in a chamber music festival. 

The 2024-2025 season continues our emphasis on chamber music. As you all know from camp, we are excited to announce our new Chamber Music Director, Eugene Sor!!  Below, you will find the expectations, support and performance opportunities that come along with the honor of representing PACO at the highest levels.  

1) Additional registration, up to 9 groups 

a. Students will be grouped according to Academy forms filled out for the PACO music director. 

b. Groups will be formed no later than the start of the concert season (1st week of rehearsals starting after Labor Day) Groups may be any traditional chamber ensemble – trio, quartet etc. All strings.

2) Repertoire – rep will be selected with the music director.  This may be limited to a single mvt, an entire quartet, or multiple individual mvts representing different styles.  

3) Rehearsals

a. As a standard, weekly rehearsals are expected. The Academy students will receive professional coachings throughout their concert set. Additional rehearsals may be organized by the group themselves.  Rehearsals should start once the group is formed and continue for the entire concert season ending in June. 

4) Coachings

a. All Academy chamber groups will be given 6-8 60 minute coachings with professional coaches per concert set for a total of at least 20 coachings. This will be managed and organized by our Chamber Music Director, Eugene Sor. All coachings will be with our PACO faculty. 

5) Masterclasses

a. All Academy groups will perform in our public masterclasses.  The masterclasses will take place on Sundays, before PACO rehearsal (2-4pm) Non-academy groups will be welcomed to perform and attend per director input

6) Performances

1. We have three scheduled concerts for out Academy Chamber ensembles: 

1. Palo Alto Art Center - 2-4pm - 11/16/2024, 3/8/2025, May 2025 TBD

< Back to Resource Hub